Audit: Police in North Carolina city destroyed 333 rape kits to make space in evidence room

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – A North Carolina police department says an audit by the department shows that more than 300 rape kits from cold cases were destroyed to make more space in the evidence room.

Local news media outlets reported Monday that 333 of the sexual assault kits collected by the Fayetteville Police Department between 1995 and 2008 were destroyed. Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock ordered the audit in June when a new Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit found that some old evidence was still at the department while other evidence had been disposed of.

Officials said the department has instituted a tracking system with 2015 sexual assault kits and will eventually add all older kits still in evidence. In addition, detectives will complete a case history and analysis form to aid with the tracking.